this has been a fascinating subject....I would like to add some comments but not to anyone in particular....we are beautiful BEINGS OF LIGHT who are temporarily in a physical body......there are many levels on the Otherside where we do not need or want a spiritual "body" but it is always available to us......we do usually appear to loved ones as they know us, but at the age we were our best, healthy and beautiful.......but don't forget that we have donned many, many physical bodies through our journey through many lives and we may prefer one spritual likeness over another at any given time.......

those who think that their loved ones can return as animals or birds are very misinformed as it it onward and forward and never backward......but spirit does have the capability of sending animals and birds as "signs" to their loved ones and they very often do...............